Around the Region for Jan. 6, 2010

Published: Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at 10:57 p.m.

Dunnellon man charged with battery

DUNNELLON — A 20-year-old man who reportedly called sheriff’s deputies and told them a woman tried to commit suicide with a butcher knife, was charged with battery by strangulation and giving false information to a law enforcement official.

Edward DeMarco told deputies the woman attempted to kill herself and locked herself in a room with a knife. He said he kicked in the door, grabbed her by the throat, hit her in the face and grabbed the knife before she ran out of the house.

The responding deputy noted that DeMarco appeared to be heavily intoxicated.

Officials went next door, where they located the victim. She told them DeMarco was drinking heavily and slapped her in the head a number of times. She said she locked herself in a room and, when she thought he had calmed down, opened the door.

When she did, she said, DeMarco began choking her and punched her in the face.

She said she locked herself in another room, but DeMarco kicked in the door, choked her again and told her he was going to call 911 and tell them she attempted to commit suicide if she tried to run.

The victim escaped and ran next door, where she hid until deputies arrived.

She declined medical attention.

DeMarco was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail.

Police confiscate bootleg DVDs, CDs

Police detectives confiscated more than 1,000 bootleg DVDs and CDs from a store Monday.

Someone was sent inside the store and was able to purchase movies and a CD.

Officials obtained a search warrant and served it Monday.

The investigation is ongoing, and no arrests had been made as of Tuesday afternoon.

Deputies: Don’t leave valuables unattended

Sheriff’s deputies are asking people who visit the Greenway Trails at Baseline Road and Maricamp Road to not leave valuables unattended.

On Monday, officials responded to two incidents in which vehicle windows were smashed and a purse, laptop, school books and other items were removed.

In both instances, officials say, the car owners went for a quick walk or bike ride.

Anyone with information can call the Sheriff’s Office at 732-9111 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.

Utility customers beware of scam

The city of Ocala has received a number of complaints about a scam being perpetrated on electric utility customers.

People posing as Ocala Electric Utility employees call utility customers, sometimes late at night, telling them their electric bills have not been paid and threatening to cut off power if they do not pay the bill immediately.

The caller then asks for the customer’s credit card number.

“This whole thing is a fraud,” said city spokesman Sonny Allen. “Now that it’s cold weather, it seems to be exacerbated.”

Anyone who receives such a call is asked to take down the number from caller ID and report it to the Ocala Police Department’s Fraud Unit at 369-7141.

The city does not shut off customers’ power at night, said Matt Brower, assistant city manager of utilities.

Anyone who receives a call threatening to have power disconnected unless they give a credit card number should hang up and call the city at 629-2489 to verify the status of their account.

Safely dispose of your expired drugs

THE VILLAGES — From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, the Sheriff’s South Marion District Office, at 8230 165th Mulberry Lane, will host “Operation Medicine Cabinet” to allow citizens to safely dispose of outdated medications.

Sheriff’s officials and representatives from Home Instead Senior Care will answer questions and address concerns regarding proper disposal of medications, needles and other biohazards.

Outdated medications can become less potent or become dangerous after the expiration date due to chemical alterations, according to a MCSO news release. Improper disposal of expired drugs, such as tossing them in the trash or flushing them down the toilet or sink, can pose dangers including contact with children or contaminating a water supply, leading to illness in humans, pets, livestock and wildlife, according to the release.

For more information, call The Villages District Office at 671-3840.

Final bird count numbers released

The Marion County Audubon Society on Tuesday released final numbers for Monday’s Christmas Bird Count, which covered 15 miles in Southwest Marion County.

According to Norm Lantz, there were 101 species counted and 9,709 individual birds.

That number was in line with two years ago — about 9,600 — when temperatures were low. In warmer years, the number has risen to about 12,000. The last three years, the number of species counted were 111, 105 and 114.

The largest number of birds in a species were turkey vultures, with 898 counted, followed by the American crow with 861 and the yellow-rumped warbler with 858.

The species in which only one bird was counted were rock pigeon, barred owl, great crested flycatcher, Eastern kingbird, Northern parula, yellow warbler, ovenbird and song sparrow.

The numbers will be sent to the state Audubon Society for review, then to the National Audubon Society, which uses the numbers in conservation efforts.

Chester Weber gives back at fundraiser

Ocala’s Chester Weber, seven-time United States National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving Champion, drove a four-in-hand matching team of miniature horses into the SUCCEED USET Holiday Gala Fundraiser in Wellington over the holidays, bringing in USEF President David O’Connor, dressed as Santa Claus.

During the event, Weber also offered a day of training that was auctioned off to raise money for the USET Foundation. For more information, visit www.chesterweber.com.

<p><b>Dunnellon man charged with battery</b></p><p>DUNNELLON — A 20-year-old man who reportedly called sheriff's deputies and told them a woman tried to commit suicide with a butcher knife, was charged with battery by strangulation and giving false information to a law enforcement official.</p><p>Edward DeMarco told deputies the woman attempted to kill herself and locked herself in a room with a knife. He said he kicked in the door, grabbed her by the throat, hit her in the face and grabbed the knife before she ran out of the house.</p><p>The responding deputy noted that DeMarco appeared to be heavily intoxicated.</p><p>Officials went next door, where they located the victim. She told them DeMarco was drinking heavily and slapped her in the head a number of times. She said she locked herself in a room and, when she thought he had calmed down, opened the door.</p><p>When she did, she said, DeMarco began choking her and punched her in the face.</p><p>She said she locked herself in another room, but DeMarco kicked in the door, choked her again and told her he was going to call 911 and tell them she attempted to commit suicide if she tried to run.</p><p>The victim escaped and ran next door, where she hid until deputies arrived.</p><p>She declined medical attention.</p><p>DeMarco was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail.</p><p>Police confiscate bootleg DVDs, CDs</p><p>Police detectives confiscated more than 1,000 bootleg DVDs and CDs from a store Monday.</p><p>Authorities say they received information in mid-December about Swagga House, at 2068 W. Silver Springs Blvd., selling knock-off merchandise.</p><p>Someone was sent inside the store and was able to purchase movies and a CD.</p><p>Officials obtained a search warrant and served it Monday.</p><p>The investigation is ongoing, and no arrests had been made as of Tuesday afternoon.</p><p>Deputies: Don't leave valuables unattended</p><p>Sheriff's deputies are asking people who visit the Greenway Trails at Baseline Road and Maricamp Road to not leave valuables unattended.</p><p>On Monday, officials responded to two incidents in which vehicle windows were smashed and a purse, laptop, school books and other items were removed.</p><p>In both instances, officials say, the car owners went for a quick walk or bike ride.</p><p>Anyone with information can call the Sheriff's Office at 732-9111 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.</p><p><b>Utility customers beware of scam</b></p><p>The city of Ocala has received a number of complaints about a scam being perpetrated on electric utility customers.</p><p>People posing as Ocala Electric Utility employees call utility customers, sometimes late at night, telling them their electric bills have not been paid and threatening to cut off power if they do not pay the bill immediately.</p><p>The caller then asks for the customer's credit card number.</p><p>“This whole thing is a fraud,” said city spokesman Sonny Allen. “Now that it's cold weather, it seems to be exacerbated.”</p><p>Ocala Police Detective Steve Thibodeaux warns citizens to not give credit card numbers over the phone to strangers.</p><p>Anyone who receives such a call is asked to take down the number from caller ID and report it to the Ocala Police Department's Fraud Unit at 369-7141.</p><p>The city does not shut off customers' power at night, said Matt Brower, assistant city manager of utilities.</p><p>Anyone who receives a call threatening to have power disconnected unless they give a credit card number should hang up and call the city at 629-2489 to verify the status of their account.</p><p><b>Safely dispose of your expired drugs</b></p><p>THE VILLAGES — From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, the Sheriff's South Marion District Office, at 8230 165th Mulberry Lane, will host “Operation Medicine Cabinet” to allow citizens to safely dispose of outdated medications.</p><p>Sheriff's officials and representatives from Home Instead Senior Care will answer questions and address concerns regarding proper disposal of medications, needles and other biohazards.</p><p>Outdated medications can become less potent or become dangerous after the expiration date due to chemical alterations, according to a MCSO news release. Improper disposal of expired drugs, such as tossing them in the trash or flushing them down the toilet or sink, can pose dangers including contact with children or contaminating a water supply, leading to illness in humans, pets, livestock and wildlife, according to the release.</p><p>For more information, call The Villages District Office at 671-3840.</p><p><b>Final bird count numbers released</b></p><p>The Marion County Audubon Society on Tuesday released final numbers for Monday's Christmas Bird Count, which covered 15 miles in Southwest Marion County.</p><p>According to Norm Lantz, there were 101 species counted and 9,709 individual birds.</p><p>That number was in line with two years ago — about 9,600 — when temperatures were low. In warmer years, the number has risen to about 12,000. The last three years, the number of species counted were 111, 105 and 114.</p><p>The largest number of birds in a species were turkey vultures, with 898 counted, followed by the American crow with 861 and the yellow-rumped warbler with 858.</p><p>The species in which only one bird was counted were rock pigeon, barred owl, great crested flycatcher, Eastern kingbird, Northern parula, yellow warbler, ovenbird and song sparrow.</p><p>The numbers will be sent to the state Audubon Society for review, then to the National Audubon Society, which uses the numbers in conservation efforts.</p><p><b>Chester Weber gives back at fundraiser</b></p><p>Ocala's Chester Weber, seven-time United States National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving Champion, drove a four-in-hand matching team of miniature horses into the SUCCEED USET Holiday Gala Fundraiser in Wellington over the holidays, bringing in USEF President David O'Connor, dressed as Santa Claus.</p><p>During the event, Weber also offered a day of training that was auctioned off to raise money for the USET Foundation. For more information, visit www.chesterweber.com.</p>